Early Stages Of Culture Research Articles

The Petrovka Bronze Age Sites: Issues in Taxonomy and Chronology

This article introduces a series of AMS radiocarbon dates for the Bronze Age Petrovka cemeteries in the Trans-Urals. The results of the AMS14C-dating of animal and human bones indicate a very high degree of concordance in the 19th and 18th centuries cal BC time range. The previously obtained AMS datings clearly fi t into the same chronological interval. Specifi cally, 17 of 36 analyses of the Petrovka series yielded very similar results. In other cases, where dating was based on wood and charcoal, the results are highly inconsistent, even within the same burial. Before the verifi cation of these results, the short interval based on AMS dates should be preferred. Its comparison with intervals for other cultures of the Trans-Urals demonstrates marked similarity: in fact, complete coincidence of some of them. At the same time, stratigraphic and typological evidence suggests that the Sintashta, Petrovka, and Alakul traditions are stages of a sequence. Additional arguments are features of continuity in the material culture and the practice of using the burial mounds of a previous culture for new graves, without destroying the older ones. In our view, the only explanation is provided by a dynamic scenario of cultural change spanning two centuries, from the migration of the Sintashta people to Southern Urals until the formation of the Alakul culture. The resolution of the radiocarbon method does not suffi ce to detect such rapid changes. If this explanation is correct, the Petrovka sites should be considered an early stage of the Alakul culture, rather than a separate culture.

Potato Virus Y Detection in Seed Potatoes Using Deep Learning on Hyperspectral Images.

Virus diseases are of high concern in the cultivation of seed potatoes. Once found in the field, virus diseased plants lead to declassification or even rejection of the seed lots resulting in a financial loss. Farmers put in a lot of effort to detect diseased plants and remove virus-diseased plants from the field. Nevertheless, dependent on the cultivar, virus diseased plants can be missed during visual observations in particular in an early stage of cultivation. Therefore, there is a need for fast and objective disease detection. Early detection of diseased plants with modern vision techniques can significantly reduce costs. Laboratory experiments in previous years showed that hyperspectral imaging clearly could distinguish healthy from virus infected potato plants. This paper reports on our first real field experiment. A new imaging setup was designed, consisting of a hyperspectral line-scan camera. Hyperspectral images were taken in the field with a line interval of 5 mm. A fully convolutional neural network was adapted for hyperspectral images and trained on two experimental rows in the field. The trained network was validated on two other rows, with different potato cultivars. For three of the four row/date combinations the precision and recall compared to conventional disease assessment exceeded 0.78 and 0.88, respectively. This proves the suitability of this method for real world disease detection.

Holding (not so) fast: surface chemistry constrains kelp bioadhesion

ABSTRACT Benthic macroalgae must attach firmly to the substrate to prevent being detached and washed away by water motion. The success of the bioadhesion system can be strongly influenced by surface chemistry and so this should be optimized for large-scale cultivation. This is especially important during the early stage of cultivation when the juveniles have little thigmotactic attachment, which is needed to interlock with surface rugosity. Juvenile sporophytes of Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae) were directly applied onto polymer films of varied surface composition to determine how the attachment force of the developing holdfast was influenced by surface chemistry. Eight polymer chemistries were examined: polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polyester (PES), polypropylene (PP), polymethylacrylate (PMA), polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The PP and PE were also examined as three grades: commercial grade with additives, pure polymer, or pure polymer following a corona treatment. Additive inclusion and corona significantly reduced the water contact angle (p < 0.0001), indicating an increase in the surface free energy available for bioadhesion. After 6 weeks, the attachment force was greatest on PVA, PA and PVC (0.19–0.33 N), correlating strongly with the achieved biomass (R2 = 0.68). Additives and corona treatment improved holdfast attachment force, particularly corona treated PE (0.28 ± 0.08 N: 0 N without corona). Generally, attachment force appeared greatest on chemistries with a contact angle of 60–75°. These results confirm that the bioadhesion of the phaeophyte holdfast is strongly influenced by the surface free energy of the substrate chosen. Through alteration of the additive composition, attachment could be improved to create bespoke cultivation substrates. Corona treatment is highlighted as a very suitable method for improving holdfast attachment force during cultivation.

Long-Lasting Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Human Microfragmented Adipose Tissue.

Over the last few years, human microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), containing significant levels of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and obtained from fat lipoaspirate (LP) through a minimal manipulation in a closed system device, has been successfully used in aesthetic medicine as well as in orthopedic and general surgery. Interestingly, in orthopedic diseases, this ready-to-use adipose tissue cell derivative seems to have a prolonged time efficacy even upon a single shot injection into osteoarthritic tissues. Here, we investigated the long-term survival and content of MSCs as well the anti-inflammatory activity of LP and its derived MFAT in vitro, with the aim to better understand a possible in vivo mechanism of action. MFAT and LP specimens from 17 human donors were investigated side by side. During a long-term culture in serum-free medium, we found that the total cell number as well the MSC content in MFAT decreased more slowly if compared to those from LP specimens. The analysis of cytokines and growth factors secreted into the conditioned medium (CM) was similar in MFAT and LP during the first week of culture, but the total amount of cytokines secreted by LP decreased much more rapidly than those produced by MFAT during prolonged culture (up to 28 days). Similarly, the addition of MFAT-CM recovered at early (3-7 days) and late stage (14-28 days) of culture strongly inhibited inflammatory function of U937 monocyte cell line, whereas the anti-inflammatory activity of LP-CM was drastically reduced after only 7 days of culture. We conclude that MFAT is an effective preparation with a long-lasting anti-inflammatory activity probably mediated by a long-term survival of their MSC content that releases a combination of cytokines that affect several mechanisms involved in inflammation processes.

Cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in sludge extract from resorcinol‐rich wastewater: the removal and inhibitory effect of sludge toxicity

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris present in toxic sludge extract from resorcinol‐rich wastewater was investigated to simultaneously determine the biomass production and toxicity removal.RESULTSA comparison of the blank and the toxic sludge extract revealed that the sludge toxicity originating from the degradation of resorcinol was highly correlated to the mass fraction at 5000–10000 Da (R = 0.987, P = 0.013) and led to a decline in biomass (1.49 g L−1 to 1.36 g L−1 in 30 days) along with a reduced utilization rate of organics in the sludge extract, especially in the early stage (0–5 days) of culture. The effects of sludge toxicity were characterized by the downregulation of proteins associated with carbon (C) metabolism and the upregulation of proteins involved in photoreaction by proteomics.CONCLUSIONThe sludge toxicity directly caused a decline in biomass production of C. vulgaris resulting from the downregulation of C metabolism. However, the promotion of biomass for heterotrophism was more significant than the inhibitory effect in the toxic sludge extract when compared with BG11 medium. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Петровские памятники бронзового века: проблемы таксономии и хронологии

This article introduces a series of AMS radiocarbon dates for the Bronze Age Petrovka cemeteries in the Trans-Urals. The results of the AMS 14 C-dating of animal and human bones indicate a very high degree of concordance in the 19th and 18th centuries cal BC time range. The previously obtained AMS datings clearly fi t into the same chronological interval. Specifi cally, 17 of 36 analyses of the Petrovka series yielded very similar results. In other cases, where dating was based on wood and charcoal, the results are highly inconsistent, even within the same burial. Before the verifi cation of these results, the short interval based on AMS dates should be preferred. Its comparison with intervals for other cultures of the Trans-Urals demonstrates marked similarity: in fact, complete coincidence of some of them. At the same time, stratigraphic and typological evidence suggests that the Sintashta, Petrovka, and Alakul traditions are stages of a sequence. Additional arguments are features of continuity in the material culture and the practice of using the burial mounds of a previous culture for new graves, without destroying the older ones. In our view, the only explanation is provided by a dynamic scenario of cultural change spanning two centuries, from the migration of the Sintashta people to Southern Urals until the formation of the Alakul culture. The resolution of the radiocarbon method does not suffi ce to detect such rapid changes. If this explanation is correct, the Petrovka sites should be considered an early stage of the Alakul culture, rather than a separate culture.

NAHÇIVAN’IN KALKOLİTİK ÇAĞ KÜLTÜRÜ (AZERBAYCAN)

The Chalcolithic Period culture of South Caucasus is studied by different researches, but some problems have not been unsolved. Communications of different stages of Chalcolithic Period culture, especially genesis questions and date of Late Chalcolithic Period culture are not clarified. Now there is a gap between Late Neolithic and Late Chalcolithic Period cultures. In Nakhchivan Kultepe, the Neolithic Period is replaced with the Early Bronze Period, and in the settlements such as Mentesh Tepe, Aratashen and the Khatunarkh-Aknashen Neolithic Period is replaced with the Late Chalcolithic Age. In this regard researches of roots of Late Chalcolithic Period culture in monuments of the Neolithic period were unsuccessful. The Chalcolithic culture of South Caucasus in some researches stated as Early Chalcolithic (4800-4000 BC) and Middle/Late Chalcolithic (4000-3200 BC). In spite of the fact that some researchers carried the early period of the Chalcolithic to the first half of the V. Millennium BC, the middle and late period to the second half of this millennium, however materials of the early and middle period are provided in insignificant quantity. In last years in Nakhchivan that is located on joint of South Caucasus and the Middle East numerous Chalcolithic monuments are revealed. At the same time researches of monuments such as Nakhchivan Tepe, Ucan Agil and Uzun Oba which located on the valley Nakhchivanchay and Sirabchay are revealed the findings relating to early (5000-4600 BC) and middle stage (4600-4400 BC) of Chalcolithic Period. These findings differ from findings of Ovchular Tepe, Tekhut, Sioni, Mentesh Tepe, Aratashen, Berikldeebi, Beyuk Kesik and others. By researches of monuments of the valley Sirabchay, it is clarified that Late Chalcolithic culture has two different periods. The monuments were revealed in the Sirabchay valley belongs to that period, following after the period provided by the settlement Ovcular Tepe (4400-4000 BC). This period represents a final stage of Chalcolithic culture (4000-3600 BC). Research of monuments Nakhchivan allows tracing serial stages of Chalcolithic culture of this region from the V. Millennium BC up to the IV. Millennium BC. Researches show that early and middle stage of Chalcolithic culture of Nakhchivan is connected to Dalma Tepe culture. Pottery like Dalma Tepe with impression and painted ornament is revealed in monuments of the basin of Urmia, Karabag, the Mil-Mugan steppe and East Anatolia. It shows communications of cultures of the basin of Urmia, Azerbaijan and East Anatolia. The influences of cultures of the Middle East to South Caucasus are connected with cultural economic relations. These connections were promoted by rich copper and obsidian deposits of South Caucasus.

Optimization of saponin extracts using microwave-assisted extraction as a sustainable biopesticide to reduce Pomacea canaliculata population in paddy cultivation

This study highlights the optimum conditions to extract saponins from Furcraea selloa var. marginata (Furcraea leaves) and spent tea leaves (STL) using supercritical-CO2 (ScCO2) and microwave. The bioactivity effects of saponins towards golden apple snails, Pomacea canaliculata were shown. The experiment was designed using the response surface methodology (RSM) to determine the optimum conditions for both extractions technique. Based on RSM analysis, the highest yield of saponins was obtained at 21.60 MPa, 0.30 mm particle size and 4.62 ml/min CO2 for 30 min using ScCO2 extraction. Meanwhile, in microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), the highest yield obtained was at 90 °C, 9 min of extraction time and 23.54 ml solvent per gram of sample. The effect of solvent was also investigated. Using water as co-solvent in ScCO2 extraction and as solvent in MAE resulted in better yield of saponins. Overall, MAE was more efficient to extract saponins with 3.43 wt% compared to ScCO2 extraction with only 0.49 wt%. The efficacy test of synthesized biopesticides against golden apple snails (GAS) proved that Furcraea leaves extract is the active ingredient to produce effective biopesticide as its performance was able to increase the mortality of GAS up to 100% within 24 h observation and enhanced the paddy growth at early stage of cultivation.

Security and rescue research of the burial ground "Brotherly 1st barrows"on the territory of the Chechen Republic in 2018

In June-October 2018 Terek complex archaeological expedition ("scientific and production center "Dagestan archaeological service"), Caucasian expedition (Institute of archeology RAS) and Chechen expedition (Institute of humanitarian research of the Academy of Sciences of the CR), bringing together experts from Vladikavkaz, Volgograd, Grozny, Makhachkala, Moscow, Simferopol, etc., at the expense of PJSC "Gazprom" / LLC "Gazprominvest" (St. Petersburg) and LLC "Kirus" (Grozny), we conducted security and rescue research in the territory of the super – terrechny district of the Chechen Republic in the area of construction of the main gas pipeline "Mozdok-Grozny". Of greatest interest are the materials of the burial ground "Fraternal 1st mounds" (162 burial complex), Dating from the III-IV centuries ad and is the necropolis of the Fraternal 1st settlement, Dating from the early stage of the Alanian culture. The named necropolis occupies an approximate territory of 6.5 x 3.5-2 km.&#x0D; In the present article the General review of the investigated burials of the named barrow burial ground which many embankments are destroyed as a result of economic activity is presented. The result of this work was excavated barrow 162 and beskarkasnyh funeral complex. The vast majority of burials were made in catacombs of type I (the long axis of the chamber is perpendicular to the long axis of the entrance pit). The investigated sample of burials makes it possible to consider this monument a reference to the territory of the Middle Primerica at the specified time. The population, which left the burial grounds type "Fraternal 1st barrows", participated in the cultural and historical processes in the territory West of the Caspian sea, where their presence is recorded in the Terek-Sulak interfluve in the second half of the III century ad, and from the middle of IV century BC, in southern Dagestan, where, according to information from written sources, localized "Country land".

The Pottery of the “Citadel” Site of Dykyi Sad Hillfort

The paper deals with the pottery from the rooms of “Citadel” of the hillfort Dykyi Sad. There were fixed 18 rooms at the Citadel territory (nr. 1—12; 14—16; 19—20; 24) where more than ten thousand fragments of ceramics were found relating to approximately 1,500 vessels of various purposes. 191 intact and partially broken vessels from the rooms nos. 1—12; 15; 19, 20, suitable for classification were selected. The subject of the research is the handmade wares from the structures located at section “A” (“Citadel”). This territory of Dykyi Sad has been explored almost completely and constitutes an isolated location in the central part of the whole settlement, surrounded by a ditch from the south, west and north and by ravines from the east. All material was classified into two groups: closed (127 fragments) and opened forms (55 fragments). Each group is divided into types (group of closed form wares — pots, jars-shaped cups, ladles, large pots; group of opened form wares — cups, bowls, braziers); the types were classifeid by form of neck and rim. Within the types the variants were selected by the shape of body. The separate, special group is formed from non-standard vessels which can be considered the cult (9 fragments). The pots and large pots prevail among the closed forms while the bowls prevail in the group of opened forms. The pottery from the “Citadel” site of Dykyi Sad in the cultural-chronological aspect belongs to the early stage of Bilozerska culture (the end of the 13th — 12th centuries BCE) and confirm that life on the territory of the site began namely from this area. This statement is also confirmed by the results of C14 analyzes (the range of dates from all the sites amounts 1186—925 BCE, ± 80 years).

Quantitative Evaluation of Electric Light Recipes for Red Leaf Lettuce Cultivation in Plant Factories

Red leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa) has high nutritional value and is frequently used in salads. In a plant factory with full electric lighting, if the spectrum is incorrect, then red leaf lettuce will have incomplete coloration. This study aimed to establish a light recipe for the mass production of red leaf lettuce using electric light sources in a plant factory by using indicators for quantitative assessment, including energy yield (EY) [grams of fresh weight (FW) harvested per kilowatt hour of electricity input for lighting], photon yield (PY) (grams of FW harvested per mole of photons delivered), anthocyanin yield per kilowatt hour (EYA), and anthocyanin yield per photon (PYA). First, the effects of four types of light quality on FW and anthocyanin content were examined. Then, two types of light quality, light-emitting diode with a red-to-blue photon ratio of 80:20 (R80:B20) and R20:B80, were selected for an experiment involving five treatments. An optimum light recipe (SR5SB1) including R80:B20 treatment during the early stage of cultivation (weeks 1 through 5 after sowing) followed by R20:B80 treatment during the final stage (week 6) was proposed. The SR5SB1 treatment led to FW, EYA, and PYA of 87.8 g/plant, 1.63 mg/kWh, and 0.57 mg·mol–1, respectively. This treatment resulted in the highest EYA and PYA, with 159% and 256% more anthocyanin productivity, respectively, compared with cool white treatment (with FW, EYA, and PYA of 65.8 g/plant, 0.63 mg/kWh, and 0.16 mg·mol–1, respectively). The proposed SR5SB1 light recipe enabled cultivation of red leaf lettuce with a balanced yield and anthocyanin production.

Plato’s “Republic”: Sample of Proto-Project Mental Activity and Primary Experience in the Design of New Social Forms

The author devotes the article to the analysis of Plato’s “Republic” in the context of the Genesis of project thinking and project activity as an anthropological result going back to the early stages of culture and primary personality-oriented ancient practices. The research attempts to trace the scheme of the movement of “project ideas” proposed by Plato “designer”. Later these ideas would be widely known as “an ideal state” and for many centuries would become a model of government. Plato’s “project ideas” considered by the author still remain in demand and are actively used in contemporary project cultural practices. For this purpose, the author makes the transition to the plane of historical and cultural retrospective of the origin of project thinking phenomenon with the objective twists and turns of its genesis. The author also attempts to reflect on this process, to study and clarify a number of points related to the prelude and dynamics of the development of the project approach to the organization of modern reality. At the same time, the text substantiates the author’s position on the interpretation of Plato’s “Republic” as an early typical example of Proto-project thinking formed in the depths of ancient cultural practices. Project thinking is a promising project of the existence of culture, a kind of matrix of self-realization of a significant part of our contemporaries. The main conclusion of the study is the ability to recognize the work of Plato “State” as one of the first samples of proto-design on the basis of the presence of a large number of typological features of design and the absence of a smaller number of such. We believe that Plato’s work “Republic” on most parameters falls under the concept of “project activity”, because in it we were able to identify most of the components of socio-cultural design.

Fontes e parcelamento do nitrogênio em híbridos de milho geneticamente modificados

This study sought to evaluate the effects of sources and splitting of nitrogen on the morphological parameters and yield of genetically modified maize hybrids. This study was conducted during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 growing seasons in Tenente Portela, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Randomized blocks design in factorial arrangement (2 x 2 x 11 x 3) were used for the growing seasons; seasons x maize hybrids x nitrogen management x nitrogen sources, with three replicates. Analysis of variance pointed to interaction between all factors through plant height and number of kernels per row. Significant interaction through season x maize hybrids x nitrogen management for ear insertion height and grain yield. The interaction seasons x nitrogen management x nitrogen sources, and maize hybrids x nitrogen management can be highlighted for the variable ear insertion height. The characteristic thousand grain weight showed interaction through seasons x maize hybrids. Maize hybrids respond similarly to nitrogen management, where different nitrogen sources show similar behavior for the studied variables, without response to grain yield. The different nitrogen management forms caused positive effects on the evaluated variables, especially when performed in the early stages of culture. The current recommendation of nitrogen splitting in maize is adequate, but for the hybrid DKB 250 VT PRO2 ® in water deficit, nitrogen can be applied until the V8 growth stage.

Bacteroides sedimenti sp. nov., isolated from a chloroethenes-dechlorinating consortium enriched from river sediment.

A Gram-negative, anaerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated YN3PY1T, was isolated from a chloroethene-dechlorinating consortium originally enriched from river sediment. The strain enhanced the dechlorination of cis-dichloroethene to ethene by Dehalococcoides, especially at the early stages of cultivation. Strain YN3PY1T was the first isolate of the genus Bacteroides, obtained from animal-independent environments, and its 16S rRNA gene had the highest sequence similarity (97.1%) with Bacteroides luti JCM 19020T in the 'Coprosuis' clade of the genus Bacteroides. Strain YN3PY1T formed a phylogenetic cluster with other phylotypes detected from sediments and paddy soil, and the cluster was affiliated with a linage of so-called free-living Bacteroides detected from animal-independent environments, suggesting specific adaptations to sediment-like environments. The strain showed typical phenotypes of Bacteroides, i.e., polysaccharolytic anaerobe having anteiso-C15:0 as the most abundant fatty acid and MK-11 as one of the major respiratory quinones. Additionally, the strain uniquely transforms glucose to lactate and malate, has MK-12 as another major respiratory quinone, and grows at comparatively low temperatures, i.e. 10-40°C, with an optimum at 28°C. Based on the presented data, strain YN3PY1T (= KCTC 15656T = NBRC 113168T) can be proposed as a novel species of the genus Bacteroides and named as Bacteroides sedimenti sp. nov.

The influences of temperature and irradiance on thallus length of Saccharina japonica (Phaeophyta) during the early stages of cultivation

Korean Saccharina japonica is highly valued, both for human consumption and abalone feed. For the stable production of abalone feed, fresh seaweed biomass is required throughout the year. However, currently, the production of farmed Saccharina is limited by environmental conditions such as temperature, irradiance, and nutrient availability between August and November. Due to shortages experienced in supply, the production of early-season biomass can be highly profitable and, therefore, some famers attempt to start their cultivation activities before prevailing, surface seawater temperatures (SST) are optimal. However, attempting to cultivate too early, can lead to total crop failure. Young kelp sporophytes are easily destroyed between 18 and 22 °C SST, which can occur during the early nursery period when the materials are confined to tanks. This study investigated the growth of S. japonica thalli and photosynthetic quantum yield (Fv/Fm) under five temperatures (i.e., 18–26 °C, at 2° increments) and five irradiances (i.e., 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μmol photons m−2 s−1). This was undertaken for four different size groups of sporophyte thalli (i.e., 0.25, 1, 5, 10 mm). There were different responses of the initial groups of S. japonica showing different tolerances to temperature and irradiance. In general, the smaller plants (1 mm) were more tolerant of sub-optimal conditions than their larger cohorts. These results indicated the optimum temperature and irradiance ranges for different size groups of S. japonica thalli which, if adopted in management protocols, could contribute to enhanced profitability and a more stable and evenly distributed production of Saccharina raw materials over an entire annual basis.

TASMOLA MONUMENTS OF CENTRAL KAZAKHSTAN IN THE STUDIES OF THE BEGINNING OF THE XXI CENTURY

According to archaeological researches, in the early Saka period the steppe areasof Central, Northern Kazakhstan and the Southern Trans-Urals were inhabited by the tribes of the great Tasmola historical and cultural community. The tribes of Central Kazakhstan constitute the core of this community. For the first time, Tasmola archaeological culture was discovered and described by M. K. Kadyrbaevin 1966. Today a significant amount of new data has been gathered, which allows us to expand our understanding of the peculiarities of that culture. The article presents an overview of the main content of new studies and publishes data on radiocarbon analyses, first obtained from the monuments of Tasmola culture. More than 60 analyses from the monuments of the Early Iron Age of Central Kazakhstan were made by A. Z. Beisenov in the Kiev radiocarbon laboratory (Kiev, Ukraine), in the laboratories of the Royal University of Belfast, (Northern Ireland, Great Britain), the Russian State Pedagogical University (Sankt-Peterburg, Russia). The article contains data from 41 analyses on Tasmola culture and 6 analyses on the monuments of the Korgantass period. In Tasmolaseries 33 dates were obtained from 31 burials, 8 dates were obtained from 6 settlements. At the present stage of the research the origins of Tasmola culture can be attributed to the middle of the 8th century BC. During the late V — early IV centuries BC there is a change of cultures, there are few burial places of the Korgantass periodin the region. The author believes that further studies are needed for more detailed internal periodization of Tasmola culture. Now we can say that numerous and most vivid monuments are common for the early stage of culture. All present researches are carried out in the eastern part of Central Kazakhstan.

The Sites of the First Half of the 1st Millennium AD of the Archaeological Complex Maly Gonbinsky Cordon-1 in the Barnaul Ob Region

The burials and sites of the final stage of the late Antiquity era, investigated on the right bank of the Ob River, opposite the city of Barnaul, are introduced into scientific circulation. The history of their study is briefly described, and information about the location on the terrain is given. The consideration is given to the peculiarities of burials made according to inhumations and cremations rites. A morphological description of the found materials is provided: arrowheads, daggers, knives, belt buckles and lining, ceramic vessels, along with a typological analysis of armament and outfit items, tools and utensils. On this basis, two burial grounds and one settlement are attributed to the Kulayskaya culture and one burial ground is attributed to the Odintsovskaya culture. The dating and periodization of the studied monuments and objects is established: two burials according to the inhumation rite are attributed to the early stage of the Kulayskaya culture (1st century BC — 2nd century AD), burials according to the cremation rite — to the late stage of the Kulayskaya culture (3rd — first half of the 4th century AD), one burial according to the inhumation rite — to the early stage of Odintsovskaya culture (second half of the 4th — 5th centuries AD). Conclusions are drawn about the nature of the use of the area by Samodic tribes at the indicated time.DOI 10.14258/izvasu(2018)2-26

Two Mychonastes isolated from freshwater bodies are novel potential feedstocks for biodiesel production

ABSTRACTMicroalgae have been considered as ideal feedstocks for biodiesel production but the potential application is still under investigations. Here, eight kinds of microalgae were identified from water samples based on the morphologic and phylogenetic analyses. Among these eight microalgae, two Mychonastes S4 and S15 exhibited relative faster growth rate in the early culture stage and the highest contents of lipids. The two Mychonastes also showed higher C18:1 contents than the two Chlorella which were traditionally considered to be potential species for biodiesel production. As one kind of less researched microalgae, this study suggests Mychonastes should be a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. The application of the microalgal biodiesel still have some limiting factors, however, it is promising based on better lipid extraction technology and more relevant studies.

Biological and osseointegration capabilities of hierarchically (meso-/micro-/nano-scale) roughened zirconia.

PurposeZirconia is a potential alternative to titanium for dental and orthopedic implants. Here we report the biological and bone integration capabilities of a new zirconia surface with distinct morphology at the meso-, micro-, and nano-scales.MethodsMachine-smooth and roughened zirconia disks were prepared from yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP), with rough zirconia created by solid-state laser sculpting. Morphology of the surfaces was analyzed by three-dimensional imaging and profiling. Rat femur-derived bone marrow cells were cultured on zirconia disks. Zirconia implants were placed in rat femurs and the strength of osseointegration was evaluated by biomechanical push-in test.ResultsThe rough zirconia surface was characterized by meso-scale (50 µm wide, 6–8 µm deep) grooves, micro-scale (1–10 µm wide, 0.1–3 µm deep) valleys, and nano-scale (10–400 nm wide, 10–300 nm high) nodules, whereas the machined surface was flat and uniform. The average roughness (Ra) of rough zirconia was five times greater than that of machined zirconia. The expression of bone-related genes such as collagen I, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and BMP-2 was 7–25 times upregulated in osteoblasts on rough zirconia at the early stage of culture. The number of attached cells and rate of proliferation were similar between machined and rough zirconia. The strength of osseointegration for rough zirconia was twice that of machined zirconia at weeks two and four of healing, with evidence of mineralized tissue persisting around rough zirconia implants as visualized by electron microscopy and elemental analysis.ConclusionThis unique meso-/micro-/nano-scale rough zirconia showed a remarkable increase in osseointegration compared to machine-smooth zirconia associated with accelerated differentiation of osteoblasts. Cell attachment and proliferation were not compromised on rough zirconia unlike on rough titanium. This is the first report introducing a rough zirconia surface with distinct hierarchical morphology and providing an effective strategy to improve and develop zirconia implants.

Notch activation promotes osteoblast mineralization by inhibition of apoptosis.

Notch activator Jagged1 (JAG1) plays a critical role in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation and bone metabolism. In this study, JAG1-induced osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization has been analyzed in primary osteoblasts for up to 7 days. Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin red staining showed an enhanced osteoblast maturation and mineralization in JAG1 treated cells, as well as higher mRNA levels of late osteoblast differentiation markers. In contrast, Notch inhibitor DAPT and deletion of Runx2 totally blocked JAG1 effects on osteoblast mineralization. Flow cytometry data further showed a significantly higher cell proliferation in early stages of culture at day 3, and lower levels of osteoblast apoptosis in late stages of culture at day 7. More importantly, activation of anti-apoptotic factor BCL-2 was enhanced, while pro-apoptotic factor Caspase3 was reduced in JAG1 treated osteoblasts. Therefore, we conclude that cell mineralization is enhanced via anti-apoptotic actions of Notch signaling within the osteoblast cells.